Iruka Okeke

Associate Professor of Biology

Biography

B. Pharm.(1989), M.Sc. (1994), Ph.D. (1998), Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.
Fulbright Fellow, Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland (1996-1997).
Fellow, International Program in the Chemical Sciences, Uppsala Universitet, Sweden (1998).
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Univ. of Maryland Med. Sch. (1998-2000).
Career Development Lecturer, University of Bradford, UK (2000-2002).
Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology, Haverford College (2002-Date).
Branco Weiss Fellow of the Society-in-Science, ETHZ, Zuerich, Switzerland (2004-Date)

Research

The Okeke lab studies interactions between Escherichia coli bacteria and their eukaryotic hosts. In particular, supported by the National Science Foundation, we study in the molecular basis for exceptional colonizing ability of some bacterial strains. We are also interested in the genetic basis for antimicrobial resistance, which we study in collaboration with investigators at the University of Ghana Medical School and Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Our Resistance Research is supported through a Branco Weiss Fellowship from the Society-in-Science.